Western Conference Round-up: Feb. 9

The Colorado Rapids concluded their participation in the Desert Friendlies in Arizona, closing with a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. The win was the Rapids first victory of the preseason after falling to the Portland Timbers and Houston Dynamo in previous games. After Arizona, the Rapids returned to Denver to take a 2-0 win over the Colorado Foxes on Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Both Colorado and Chivas USA will head to Las Vegas this week for Friday’s match-up, part of the Las Vegas Pro Soccer Challenge at Sam Boyd Stadium.

In a doubleheader, FC Dallas took two victories in Mexico; a 3-0 win over Second Division Merida and a 3-2 win over First Division Atlante on Thursday. In the first match, making his return to the Dallas squad, Kenny Cooper scored two goals in the match after officially joining the team on Monday. Former Vancouver forward Eric Hassli also joined Dallas for the 2013 season.

Across the hall, the LA Galaxy hosted Real Salt Lake on Friday and took a 1-0 loss; the loss was the first for the Galaxy and the first victory for RSL in the preseason. RSL fell 2-0 on Monday to local college UC Irvine; the team will return to Utah and will head to Arizona on Monday to take part of the Desert Diamond Cup.

The Portland Timbers concluded their participation in the Desert Friendlies with a 3-1-0 (W-L-T) record. On Tuesday, the Timbers defeated Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 and took a 3-0 victory on Friday against Tucson FC. The Timbers will return to Portland to continue preparing for opening match.

Also in Arizona, Vancouver Whitecaps FC took a 2-1 win over Houston on Saturday and a 1-0 victory over Arizona Sahuaros on Monday. Whitecaps FC are now in Vancouver where they will prepare for their participation in the Carolina Challenge Cup.

Chivas USA played the Chicago Fire to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday in The Home Depot Center. On Saturday, the San Jose Earthquakes will match-up against the Fire at the University of California, Santa Barbara.